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	Old Boys Defend Father Kizito By Wangari Kanyongo Kenya Broadcasting Corporation June 20, 2009 http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=58110 Beneficiaries of Kivuli Rehabilitation Centre ran by a Catholic Church priest at the centre of a child abuse scandal have come out to strongly defend their benefactor. The beneficiaries under the umbrella of the Kivuli Old Boys Welfare Association (KOBWA) say the centre's founder Father Renato Kizito is being framed by his detractors. The old boys who were joined by the children from the centre say that their image has been tarnished by reports that their benefactor has been sexually abusing some of them. They have instead stood firm behind father Kizito and defended a man who they say is more like a parent to them. "We urge the media to please stop denting our image. We too are Kenyans who are struggling to be responsible and to contribute significantly to the growth of our nation," the say. A media report last week claimed two boys from the Koinonia Community of which Kivuli is one of the centres had implicated the priest in a sexual abuse scandal going back years. Father Kizito has however denied the claims saying they were made by people who want to grab the community's property valued at over 3 billion shillings. And Saturday KOBWA members came out questioning the intentions of those making the accusations saying they have ulterior motives. According to the old boys of the center, some of the alleged victims interviewed by a section of the media a few days ago could have been compromised since they are well known to them. The school going children say the report has made life difficult for them as they are being ridiculed in schools. The community around the center is also questioning the credibility of the claims saying the media should talk to them first before accepting claims from what they called 'imposters'. The centre caters for former street children. The Catholic Church has vowed to investigate the claims and take appropriate action.
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